loading page

Comparative population mitogenomics of fish parasites reveals contrasting geographic pattern in the pelagic zone of Lake Tanganyika
  • +8
  • Nikol Kmentová,
  • Kelly Thys,
  • Christoph Hahn,
  • Jiří Vorel,
  • Stephan Koblmüller,
  • Maarten Van Steenberge,
  • Auguste Chocha Manda,
  • Lawrence Makasa,
  • Théophile Mulimbwa N'sibula,
  • Pascal Masilya Mulungula,
  • Maarten Vanhove
Nikol Kmentová
Hasselt University

Corresponding Author:nikol.kmentova@uhasselt.be

Author Profile
Kelly Thys
Hasselt University
Author Profile
Christoph Hahn
University of Graz
Author Profile
Jiří Vorel
Masaryk University Faculty of Science
Author Profile
Stephan Koblmüller
University of Graz
Author Profile
Maarten Van Steenberge
Hasselt University
Author Profile
Auguste Chocha Manda
University of Lubumbashi
Author Profile
Lawrence Makasa
Zambia Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Development
Author Profile
Théophile Mulimbwa N'sibula
Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock
Author Profile
Pascal Masilya Mulungula
Centre de Recherche en Hydrobiologie, Département de Biologie
Author Profile
Maarten Vanhove
Hasselt University Faculty of Sciences
Author Profile

Abstract

African Great Lakes and their fauna are among the prime model systems for evolutionary research. Lake Tanganyika is the second deepest lake in the world and its permanently stratified, relatively species-poor and well-delimited pelagic zone offers a simple model for ecosystem dynamics of open water areas worldwide. In our study, we focused on mitogenomic differentiation of directly transmitted parasites (Monogenea, Kapentagyrus) infecting two species of pelagic clupeid fishes across two subbasins of Lake Tanganyika, to unravel patterns of migration and population dynamics in the pelagic zone of large water bodies. Starting from pooled population samples, altogether containing more than 800 specimens, we provide the first population-genomic study on any parasite in the African Great Lakes. Our results indicate a lack of spatial population structuring in Kapentagyrus tanganicanus infecting its two clupeid hosts. In Kapentagyrus limnotrissae, a parasite specific to only one of the two clupeid hosts, spatial and seasonal restriction in gene flow are observed. Contrasting patterns in spatial population structuring between K. tanganicanus and K. limnotrissae reflect their differences in host range and in the life histories, migration and habitat preference of their respective hosts. This is a proof-of-concept of how parasites can be reliable tags for hardly traceable hosts, in this case indicating host and parasite connectivity throughout the hosts’ spatial distribution. Comparison of population-genetic parameters based on individual specimens versus pooled samples proofs PoolSeq as a suitable method in (mito)genomics of minute taxa that are hard to access in the field.